The Fever of Life by Fergus Hume

The story revolves around a mysterious woman named Madame Silvia, who possesses extraordinary beauty and charm. She becomes the center of attention for several men, including a young artist, a wealthy businessman, and a detective. As they become entangled in her web, they begin to uncover secrets about her past, which lead to a trail of deceit, blackmail, and murder.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1909 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Romance · 36 chapters · 113,056 words

First lines

"Fashion for the nonce surrenders Giddy Mayfair's faded splendours, And with all her sons and daughters Hastens to health-giving waters; Rests when curfew bells are ringing, Rises when the lark is singing, Plays lawn tennis, flirts and idles, Laying snares for future bridals; Thus forgetting pleasures evil, In return to life primeval. "

• Open reader

Similar titles

• The Harlequin Opal Volume 1 by Fergus Hume
• Red Money by Fergus Hume
• The Gates Of Dawn by Fergus Hume
• The Black Patch by Fergus Hume
• A Son Of Perdition by Fergus Hume
• A Dark Nights Work by Elizabeth Gaskell

Genres

• Literary Fiction — The book explores complex characters and themes of identity, culture, and societal norms, typical of literary fiction.
• Social Commentary — The narrative critiques social classes, cultural perceptions, and the dynamics of relationships, reflecting societal issues.
• Romance — The interactions and relationships among characters, particularly the romantic tension, are central to the plot.
• Comedy — The dialogue and situations often contain humor and wit, contributing to a light-hearted tone.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Crime Fiction · Detective Novel · Murder Mystery · Victorian Era · London Setting · Gothic Atmosphere · Dark Secrets · Family Drama · Social Class

What this Textopian page supports

The Fever of Life is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1909 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Fergus Hume
• Date: 1909 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Romance, Comedy, Historical Fiction
• Length: 113,056 words
• Structure: 36 chapters, 2,963 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Fever of Life by Fergus Hume
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Contents

• Pinchler's Dockyard
• Wanted, a Chaperon
• The Woman with the Fierce Eyes
• What Mrs. Belswin had to Say
• The Prodigal Son
• The Dragon
• The Garden of Hesperides
• Mrs. Belswin's Correspondence
• A Rustic Apollo
• A Boudoir Consultation
• The Art of Dining
• Ars Amoris
• Exit Mrs. Belswin
• Signor Ferrari Declines
• The Return of the Wanderer
• Forewarned is Forearmed
• Before the Storm
• Face to Face
• The Outer Darkness
• A Mysterious Affair
• Archie Makes his Plans
• Mrs. Belswin Considers Ways and Means
• Better Leave Well Alone
• A Memory of the Past
• Silas Plays his Little Game
• Vae Victis
• The Case
• What Mrs. Belk Found
• Danger
• A Clever Defence
• A Tragic Situation
• News from Australia
• Mr. Dombrain Shows his Teeth
• In Open Court
• Expiation
• A Memory of the Past

More by Fergus Hume

• The Mystery Queen (1912)
• The Caravan Crime (1924)
• The Crowned Skull (1908)
• The Green Mummy (1908)
• The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886)
• The Secret Passage (1905)
• Madame Midas (1888)
• Red Money (1892)
• All works by Fergus Hume